So, I did a crazy thing and ignored my own excellent advice. I haven’t written a word in a week. I have a list of excuses, and no, the dog did not eat my homework. Last Friday, I began my great push to finish the final major work before launching into a cleaning frenzy and scrubbing and dusting the entire house from top to bottom. A cooking marathon followed the white glove test, and I packed the refrigerator with a smorgasbord of tasty morsels before the Monday barbeque party deadline.

The linen closet shelves look pretty, but they still need a final coat of paint. I installed enough self-liners in the kitchen cabinets that nobody except me noticed. I completed my menu, compiled my shopping list, and braved the crowded stores. Fortune smiled upon my aching feet, and I forgot nothing. My eleven forgotten heat vents received a vigorous two-step sanding process before I stained them and applied two coats of polyurethane. I popped them into their new homes only moments before the guests arrived.

Everyone who I invited to the barbeque came. The happy and well-fed crowd lingered past dinnertime to chat and extend kind comments about the remodel. We can mark Monday as a tremendous success. I also hosted a last-minute guest from out of town who needed a place to stay so that they could attend a funeral. I was thrilled to help and honored they elected to spend a few extra days to visit.

The hustle and bustle, late nights, early mornings, and the mad dash to the finish line left me exhausted, but I was beyond happy even while I nursed sore muscles. The life-sucking whole-house remodeling project is mostly complete. There are minor fixes and decorating left on my list, plus the large-scale task of unpacking, sorting, donating, and finding new homes for all the items in the countless boxes stored in the basement.  But they are things I can address as time allows.

Now, I can turn my attention to other projects which I relegated to the back burner. You know things like my number one priority. It is time to dust off my good habits and write a little every day. On the last day I wrote, I typed 214 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

They say Thursday is the new Friday. At least it was yesterday, except trying to shut down the 9 to 5 at a reasonable time proved nearly impossible. Everyone cultured my hours, asking additional questions, and wanting to know my planned schedule for my four-day weekend. I told them I would be eternally grateful if they could hold down the fort and only contact me in case of a dire emergency. I am sure one will manifest. One always does. Whether I respond remains to be seen.

The linen closet shelves look pretty, and I can’t wait to apply the final coat of paint. My project to install self-liners in the rest of the kitchen cabinets got sidetracked. The weather outside was gorgeous, and I took my heat vent sanding party to the patio. The guest list RSVPs for the barbeque are rolling in, and so far, I have received only acceptance, no regrets. My menu is now final, and I started compiling my shopping list. Every day we inch one step closer to the grand project’s completion.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 215 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

I am exhausted. I’ve been running around like a crazy person trying to get everything finished. I am ever so grateful that Friday comes early this week. The sweetest thing happens when a holiday falls on either Saturday or Sunday—it allows you to turn a single day off into a four-day weekend. Who doesn’t love a four-day weekend?

The staircase project is complete. All nine interior doors are refurbished, and they look incredible. Somehow, I completely forgot about needing to sand, stain, and poly the heat vents. Oops. I can’t put the supplies away just yet. The linen closet shelves need a few minor details, and then I can apply the final coat of paint.

I finished the Pantry Wall and moved the cutting and installation of self-liners to the rest of the kitchen cabinets. Once I wrap up those jobs, I get to start my favorite chore—cleaning. Every day we inch one step closer to completion and a well-deserved nap. Yes, only a short nap because I must begin the menu planning for my holiday barbeque.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 225 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

The 9 to 5 plods ever onward, with one day almost indistinguishable from the next. We are all rats in the maze, searching for the daily exit sign and the promise of Friday. Thank goodness for passion projects, side hustles, and everyone’s excitement about plans for the upcoming holiday.

The staircase project is nearly complete. We stripped, sanded, stained, and covered the treads and risers with three coats of sealer. Then the stringer fascia, fifty balusters, four newel posts, and the railing received individual attention as we cleaned, color-matched, touched up, and sealed each one. All that remains is the final touch-ups and no shoes until the sealer cures. Four of nine interior doors are refurbished, and they look incredible.

Work stalled yesterday on the linen closet shelves, but that is the way these things go. I have finished cutting and installing shelf and drawer liners on the bank of cabinets I dubbed the “Pantry Wall.” Stemware, plates, and my coffee mugs are settling into their new homes, and the pantry staples are ever so happy in their organized space. Every day we inch one step closer to completion.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 221 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday whizzed past like a high-speed bullet train. The 9 to 5 presented me with a flurry of emails recounting a crisis. I redirected the issue to the correct individuals, added a reminder that we discussed this concern two weeks ago, and asked some very pointed questions about why the entire mess was still a festering problem. One brave soul stepped forward, devised a temporary solution, and volunteered to resolve the matter once and for all. Bravo. They dared to do the right thing. I now have another follow up item on my To-Do list. Reminder to self—Trust but verify.

Work progresses on the stairs, and one by one, the doors are returning to their beautiful, glowing splendor. Two pristine white shelves now hang in the linen closet, and two additional shelves will find their new home there tomorrow. The caulk dried nicely in the cabinets, and I have cut and installed rubber-backed, white felt shelf liners. It is time to make the glass doors sparkle and add the stemware, plates, and pretty display items. Every day we inch one step closer to completion.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 130 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

My weekends sometimes feel like super-condensed versions of my week. Chores, shopping, yard work, laundry, quality time with family, trips back to the store to purchase forgotten items, furniture moving, and cleaning up my finished project mess, all encroach on my very real need for sleep. The rest of my list will still be there in the morning. Oh, and there is the 9 to 5 to schedule into the mix. That promises to be a cakewalk in comparison. I am eagerly looking forward to the coming four-day weekend and a nice long nap.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 251 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Rainy Saturday mornings provide an excellent excuse to lie in bed a little longer than usual and cancel my daily walk. The torrential downpour flooded the streets and created a lake in the backyard as the storm sewers struggled to handle the massive amount of water. Yesterday’s total measurement reached 2.9 inches of rain, so I also canceled all outdoor projects. Sadly, it also meant scuttling plans for the precious one-year-old’s birthday party at a neighborhood park, and we held a much smaller celebration indoors. It worked out great because it meant more cake for me. Yum.

More good news arrived with the UPS truck. The replacement stringer for my 10th chair showed up on my doorstep. I couldn’t wait to attach it and complete the last chair of the set. Yippee. Now I can officially move that project to the Ta-Done column. Since I was looking for indoor activities, I spent quality time at my desk working on my Q3 planning. Yes, I can’t believe we are moving into the last half of the year already. I am sorry to admit that I am not where I planned to be. We are where we are, and I make my plans from this point forward without judging myself too harshly for not having gotten further.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 223 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday marked the end of a grueling week. The 9 to 5 always presents challenges, frustrations, and a promised paycheck for my herculean efforts. It guarantees funds for my expeditions to various stores for forgotten supplies for my home improvement projects. Armed with a fresh tube of caulk, I began work on the cabinets I cleaned and prepared the day before. They say thorough prep work is half of the job, and I finished caulking all eight cabinets in less than two hours. A few well-applied beads of caulk changed okay cabinets into something spectacular. And there is a bonus. I have enough caulk remaining to perform some touch-up magic on the bathroom vanity.

Friday is the day my class meets, and I scrambled to finish the assigned homework and submit it before class began. Mission accomplished. Refinishing work on the nine interior doors continues, and I am in awe of their transformation. The nicked, banged, scuffed, dented, dinged, sharpie marked, paint-splattered, and generally abused doors could be mistaken for brand new. Amazing. Friday night is also Date Night and an opportunity to celebrate even tiny wins.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 219 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday devolved into a long line of derailed attempts to complete a half dozen different tasks. After a soul-crushing day at the 9 to 5, the hits didn’t stop. I prepared my supplies and cleaned a set of cabinets so I could apply a bead of much-needed caulk. But when I cut into the tube of caulk, it was all dried out.

Undaunted, I moved outside to spray-paint my rusty hose caddy. I scraped the rust and began setting up my makeshift cardboard spray booth when black clouds scuttled overhead and rained on my parade. I retreated indoors, thinking I would sand the wood floor vents and get them ready for staining. I collected the eleven vents and set up my work area, only to discover that I didn’t have the correct sandpaper grit. I now have an unexpected shopping list.

The third sealer coat on the stairs looks beautiful, but it needs to cure for 24 hours before we move to the next step. Work advances slowly and steadily on refinishing the nine interior doors. Every day I celebrate even the smallest win.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 210 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer

Yesterday I encountered an enormous disappointment. I only finished assembling nine of the ten new dining room chairs. My brain pumped me up, filling me with motivation as I looked forward to crossing this task off my list. Five, four, three, two, Uh-oh. The last stretcher rail on the final chair was incorrect. The box included two front stretcher rails instead of a front stretcher and a right-side stretcher rail. You can’t imagine my dismay. I dug through the paperwork, found the 800 number, and punched my way through the “Press One for Sales” automated jungle. Eventually, the operator connected to “Marsha,” who confirmed that the part was in stock and would ship today. With luck, it will arrive next Tuesday, and I can finally put this project to bed.

The second sealer coat on the stairs required a rough sanding before applying the third, and hopefully, the final finish sealer coat. Time will tell. After a rain delay, work resumed on refinishing the nine interior doors. Every day I celebrate the small wins.

Even with the hustle and bustle, I didn’t forget my number one priority. My habits are strong, and writing a little every day is my secret weapon. Yesterday I wrote 243 words.

Did you write yesterday?

_________________________________________

Keep on writing.

Jo Hawk The Writer